Grappling with a bum knee (MCL)

I have a grade 2 MCL sprain. Yeah, me -- from throwing, not being thrown, ironically. I'm in for about 6 weeks of physical therapy. My Judo coach says that I should learn to love ne waza, because that (and uchi komi later on) is all I'm doing for at least the next three months. Coach --in all seriousness -- is going to tie my legs together for the next month or so for ne waza.

Any suggestions on how to maximize training--safely--for the crippled? I figure that this is a good time to work on my flexibility. Anyone go through this sort of thing?

(I considered putting this in the physical training forum, but this is not so much a "how do squat" as it is "cripple crappling")

I went through a torn ACL when I was 19 or 20. I never let it heal, and in 1987 I was having ACL recon. So first off, let it heal up, then go back slow. Keep in shape safely while you rehab. If there is any sort of Judo you can do with a torn MCL without aggravating it, OK, but make sure you clear it with your doc first.

And let it heal up, unless you want to see how good your health insurance is.

Ben

Falling for Judo since 1980

"You are wrong. Why? Because you move like a pregnant yak and talk like a spazzing 'I train UFC' noob." -DCS

I had a partial tear of my MCL a while back - strength training, yoga (carefully chosen poses and stretches) and boxing with a knee brace on was what I did. It was about 7-8 weeks before I got back on the mat, and even then I wore the brace for another 3 1/2 months.

So nearly 6 months of recovery for me. It should have been quicker, but in the midst of my recovery I rolled without the brace and attended a TD. My eagerness/foolishness agitated it enough to set me back a few weeks. Do yourself a favor and let the thing heal properly (not like me).

I can't remember the brand of brace, but it was heavy neoprene, velcro closures with metal hinges that could lock out at varying degrees. I still own it and can get info to you, or I'll ship it to you if you're in the US. Was a couple hundred bucks, but well worth it despite my other choices.

Thanks. Please post the Knee Brace info. I'm not quite to that point yet -- down to one crutch, like Tiny Tim. And your story is a good one to keep me from doing anything stupid. Sadly, the knee I injured was my plant (right) leg and I fight lefty.

So, it is possible to do ne waza with a bad knee--so long as your legs are tied together. It translated into defending from the fetal position/turtle while a BJJ purple, a high BJJ blue, and an enormously strong Judo brown belt tried to maul me. Good times. The knee was fine afterwards.